Industry Trends in the Genesee, Shiawassee, Thumb Michigan Works! Area

While the COVID-19 pandemic saw jobs across Michigan decrease significantly, employment levels are now elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. Recovery and growth across industry sectors and regions have varied, however. Compared to third quarter 2019, jobs in Michigan have edged up slightly by 0.9 percent. This is in contrast to what was observed in the Genesee, Shiawassee, Thumb (GST) Michigan Works! area where jobs contracted by 1.7 percent.

Within the region, Construction jobs grew 11.1 percent from third quarter 2019 to third quarter 2023. This was 2.7 percentage points greater than what was observed statewide in the industry. Similarly, Financial activities expanded by 4.3 percent across the region, 2.5 percentage points greater than the statewide rate.

On the other hand, both Manufacturing and Trade, transportation, and utilities observed job losses over the period in the GST Michigan Works! area. Decreases in employment for these industries were greater than what was seen statewide. Natural resources and mining, a smaller industry, grew 4.1 percent regionally while expanding by nearly 12 percent statewide.

Construction job gains have outpaced that of the state by nearly three percentage points.

Private Sector Job Trends, Third Quarter 2019 – Third Quarter 2023

Source: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Michigan Center for Data and Analytics

For more information on trends in the GST Michigan Works! area or other Michigan Works! areas, please view our 2024 Annual Planning Information and Workforce Analysis Reports.